Council member Al Nagy, elected in April 1980, resumes work after heart valve-replacement surgery. He and his wife, Connie, have been residents of Newark for more than 40 years and have a daughter, Maryann, and two grandchildren.

Nagy has served as a councilman and Vice-Mayor for eight terms in good and in difficult times.

"In 1980, the city was under some severe financial struggle. Proposition 13 had just passed, three years prior, so there were some extreme financial pressures on the city at that time. The Community Center was closed in 1978 when Prop. 13 passed and it re-opened by 1980. Those times were bad; today it is a lot worse," he reflected.

"Right now our nation, state and city are experiencing unparalleled economic hardships. The five-year forecast shows more expenses than income over the next 3 or 4 years. However, there are many positive signs; the economy is starting to move in the right direction, even though not by leaps and bounds. With the advent of New Park Mall and other businesses, the city receives sales tax which funds city's services," he concluded.